Photography exhibition focuses on the people of Montreal and Shanghai

Montreal Gazette

12 hours ago

To mark the 40th anniversary of Montreal and Shanghai becoming sister cities, Montreal photographer Daniel Wiener has created an engrossing photo essay highlighting the urban landscapes of the two cities and honouring what he calls the shared humanity of the people of both.
Pas de Deux: A tale — in three parts — of two cities features a series of 20 photographs set in Montreal, 20 in Shanghai and 20 featuring pairings based on subjects captured candidly in poses depicting daily life in the two cities, half a world apart.
The City of Montreal is hosting the exhibition, being held at the Conseil des arts de Montréal, from Aug. 12 through Aug. 23.
At first glance, Montreal and Shanghai seem to share little beyond an agreement signed in 1985 affirming their status as sister cities. But what if there is something more, Wiener wondered, 'something ubiquitous that reinforces our shared humanity?'
Whenever he and his wife, who is Shanghainese, travelled to Shanghai to visit her family and friends, he'd wander around the city with his camera. As a commercial photographer, he thought: 'Maybe I can take some interesting photos and sell them to Air Canada or Air China.'
Then he had what he calls 'a light bulb moment. The cities had more similarities than differences,' he realized.
Myriad differences do exist between the two cities, of course: differences in language, geography, history, climate and political systems. But beyond that, the similarities are remarkable,' said Wiener, 71.
Both cities are major ports and economic engines of their respective countries, of course — but that's not what this photo essay is about. 'Being a people watcher, that's where I pointed my lens,' he said.
Residents of both cities share a joie de vivre, for one.
'Montrealers and Shanghainese, despite life's adversities, are optimistic and know how to have a good time,' Wiener said. 'Whether at a festival, botanical show or just going about their daily lives, through my camera's eye people are often enthusiastic in letting me see how good their lives are.'
Another thing: The populations of both cities are diverse.
'More and more, Montreal is a city of immigrants,' Wiener said. Although Shanghai does not have significant foreign immigration, 'it is home to millions of migrants from rural areas who are essential in keeping the city running,' he said.
'Some areas are proudly Shanghainese, while others have a vibe much like Côte-des-Neiges,' said Wiener, who has long lived in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
The Shanghainese speak a Shanghai dialect among themselves and migrants speak Mandarin — but, because Mandarin is taught in schools throughout China, both groups are able to converse with one another.
Residents of both cities share a love of food: While Montrealers line up for poutine, smoked meat and bagels, Shanghainese queue for moon cake, dumplings and Chinese doughnuts known as youtiao.
'We don't need the approval of the Michelin Guide to know Montreal is a culinary centre for everything from street food to haute cuisine,' Wiener said. 'The same holds true for Shanghai.'
And both cities are an agglomeration of neighbourhoods.
'In Montreal, perhaps it's our proximity to each other that has led to a feeling of belonging. In Shanghai; there's that — but also the penchant people have for doing activities in groups. Exercise class or dancing in the park? It's highly probable that several times a week, you'll meet and socialize with your neighbours.'
And from that neighbourly feeling grows the willingness to help: Wiener recalled observing a senior citizen trip over a piece of metal protruding from the sidewalk on Victoria Ave. near Van Horne Ave. — 'and immediately, a group of teenagers ran over and attended to her. In Shanghai, small courtesies like giving up a seat on the métro are a way of life. In the case of an actual emergency, people do get involved.'
Most of the photos in the exhibition were taken during a two-year period, with the most recent shot in July. 'I often walk through the same areas at the same time — and I began to realize you see the same people,' he said. 'My experience throughout China is that people feel complimented if you take their picture.'
The Montreal-Shanghai relationship is much bigger than we think — and much bigger there than here,' he said. 'And the Chinese like to celebrate anniversaries.'
In 2024, Wiener discussed with the Chinese embassy's cultural affairs department in Ottawa his idea of a photo essay to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the twinning of the two cities. With their encouragement to exhibit Pas de Deux, he contacted Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, mayor of the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough — and a message was forwarded from the borough to the City of Montreal.
A spokesperson for the City of Montreal said that, so far, Wiener's exhibition is the only official event planned by the city to highlight the 40th anniversary of the Montreal-Shanghai twinning. Wiener said he has been told by the Canadian consulate in Shanghai that plans are afoot to mount the same exhibition this fall.
The relationship of Montreal and Shanghai as sister cities was formalized in May 1985, when Jean Drapeau, mayor of Montreal at the time, travelled on an official mission to Shanghai, where he and the mayor of Shanghai at the time, Wang Daohan, signed an agreement. That agreement has fostered several tangible achievements, such as professional exchanges, the creation of a traditional Chinese garden at Montreal's Botanical Garden of the Espace pour la vie natural sciences complex and a Montreal garden in Shanghai, the spokesperson said.
In 1970, Canada was the second Western country (after Sweden) to recognize the People's Republic of China, then in the middle of its Cultural Revolution. In 1971, the first Chinese ambassador to Canada, Wang Wa, settled in Ottawa; Drapeau, already mayor of Montreal, travelled to congratulate him. This could be one reason why, when Wang Wa became vice-president of China, he agreed to Shanghai's participation in the 1980 Floralies internationales de Montréal, an international horticultural exposition.
And during the Floralies, Pierre Bourque, director of the Botanical Garden at the time (and later mayor of Montreal), held meetings that proved decisive in the construction of the Chinese garden in the Botanical Garden. Designed by Chinese architect Le Weizhong, it was built between 1990 and 1991 with materials shipped from Shanghai in more than 100 containers and assembled by dozens of Chinese craftsmen.
AT A GLANCE
Pas de Deux: A tale — in three parts — of two cities., an exhibition of three series of 20 photographs each by Montreal photographer Daniel Wiener, is at the Maison du conseil des arts de Montréal, 1210 Sherbrooke St. E., across from La Fontaine Park, from Aug. 12 through 23. It is open daily to all, free of charge: Hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.